Wow! I love your statistic! 90% of your business from blogging. Looks like you're new on AR. Where are your blogs posted?

thanks for the post. I will read  some of your blogs.

     Vickie,   Have been reading AR since late 2006 and didn't do much writing until June 2007.  Most of our clients come from RaincityGuide and our site Searchingseattle.com.  Both are highly rated and Ardell is one of the main contributors on RCG.  Thanks for commenting,  have a great day.

    Thanks Gita for commenting.   An interesting note; my partner in all things (Ardell) grew up in Philadelphia and started her real estate career in Bucks County.   Small world.....

Kim- You hit the nail on the head. Find what works for you that you enjoy with a passion and consistantly do it. Works everytime.

Very good point. it's not so much what it is but that you do it day in and out. it does pay off.

    Martha, Don't you wish we knew what we loved to do much earlier in life? Not what we are good at, but what we enjoy deep down within us.   Thank you for commenting.

     Robert, I have this conversation with some of my agents more times than I feel necessary. Just do it and keep doing it....Thanks for taking the time to comment.

Kim- You are so right on with this post. I coach this principle. Blogging has replaced most other sources of listings for us now. Active Rain brings us 100% of our online listings and we get 2 to 3 listings per week from our AR blog. We would be stupid to divert and dilute our efforts! Don't fix what ain't broke!

Nice post and I too see the wonder of blogging.  It is especially important to blog using terms that potential customers might use when looking for your specialty. 

You've got it...  Find one thing that works and leverage the heck out of it...  It's all about comparative advantage and usually comparative advantage comes from doing something you love.

I'm impressed with your stats and the comment from Nestor and Katerina...I like to post from time to time but I'm not sure I will ever get a listing from here.  Is it from other agents in the country referring to you?

Kim, do you live in my head? I have been thinking and mulling over this same thing. Do what works, and work at it. It is nice to have all the social networks, and fun. But, we have to do what is bringing us business and continue to do more of it. Different things work in different area's so I don't bad mouth what works for one Realtor in one area, just because it is a flop here.

90% from blogging is pretty impressive, isn't it!  Sounds like next year's business plan will be a little shorter than usual. 

What a relief! Well said. Thanks for your post. You made my day! There seems to be so much pressure to stay updated with the social networking etc. Sometimes I found myself not able to sleep at night because I was worried about not being current..

Kim, That is great advice... I think that you can become obsessed with spending time online.  90% - That 's awesome!

Great Post! I am still new to this blogging thing, but have found it to be worth the time. Thanks for sharing.

Well said, Kim. I'm having fun doing what I am doing and it is bringing me business. I don't have time to add any new "tools" - even if a leading website tells me I should!

    Nester and Katerina,   Great getting a comment from you.....I read your posts and always walk away with a positive sense of purpose.  Sometimes, time is all it takes to enjoy the benefits of working consistently with a few goals in mind.

Sage advice indeed.  Listen to thine own drummer...having the focus of a laser has always been a winner.

Good post!'

kk

     Robert M,  Ardell has drilled your point into my head that we must act and think as if we are the client, and what do they require.  The rest just falls into place...Thanks for commenting.

    Glenn,   In the music business we had the old saying " lets just throw everything on the wall and see what sticks."    And work that to the best of your ability.   BTW, like the name of your LLC.

    Cindy (in Indy),    Very few referrals,  most clients come from reading our posts over a period of time.  When they are ready and decide to buy or sell, they  feel as if we are known to them at a higher more confident level.   Keep writing and let your area, thru local stuff, see the real you...I liked your profile and purpose for life and work....now let everyone else know...

     Missy,   so true what you say.....I may not do what works for someone else in another part of the country,  but I might give something a try and tweak it to fit me....What do we have to lose? A little time, small investment cost?   That's a small price to pay to figure out what works consistently for us.

 Thank you for commenting,   coming from you ( like Katerina) that means a lot to me..

    Diane,  Actually I think next years plan will be larger than this one.  Time to branch out into a few newer ways of reaching the public.  It's coming together in this crazy head of mine. Might actually change the focus of my real estate company to match it.  BTW, Hilton Head is a beautiful place....

   Thanks for taking the time to comment.

  Angelica,  Get that sleep, the world on all these sites will still be there in the morning.  I love the area you work and live in....Carmel to me is still one of the great small cities left in Calif.

   Thank you for your comment,  take care...

    Debbie,  I still believe that work is broken down into A- B- and C levels.

    A is what we do that creates income right now.

    B is what is necessary to create A.

    C is " the busy stuff" that is fun and takes us away from A and B.  That's where I see most of these social networking sites fitting in.  But then again, I'm an old guy--what do I know?

    Take care and thanks.

    Charlene,  This is worth our time as long as our time is managed correctly.    You have been in this business for a long time,  let the public in your area benefit by writing to them...

    Debbie,   One of these days I'm going to fix up and put lots of nifty things on my blog, but as long as it still works I might not mess around with too much....I stopped worrying about having the "next new thing," a long time ago.   Thanks for commenting.....

    Kristal,   Thank you for your comment.   I have been reading your stuff for over 2 years now and learn something (usually about me) in the process.  We must find what lives within us in order to feel comfortable out in the public eye.... And that does not happen over night.

Kim, That's great that you have such success with blogging.  You're right, there are so many ways to go in this biz, you can really loose yourself & sight of what it is you want when all you do is chase!

Thanks for sharing,

Hi Kim,  Excellent point !   Not sure it depends on how long you have been in the business but it is important to find your own voice and work at it consistently !

Kim, you hit it! I love the "find yourself in this busines" - that is what makes or breaks you. You have to figure out your own style and forget what others are doing.

  Yvette,  If I can do this than anyone with some common sense can also make blogging an integral part of their business plan.  Thanks for stopping by.....

   Bill, The experience thing in business only keeps us from hopefully not making the same mistakes over and over again.   Working on our business each day brings the reward....

   Thanks for the comment.

  Hi Jo,  I don't understand how anyone can work at a job they truly dislike. just be real, and honest to yourself, and clients and good things happen...Take care...

Kim- Interesting....being a newer blogger I am working towards figuring out how to make Technology work more for me than it has.  I get referrals, leads, etc. However since I am trying to transition to another area, I have been careful of how much I wanted to do the local stuff.  I want my name known for a certain type of person, not for an area....and that has been pretty hard actually.

Good advice!     Important to be entertained/entertaining, but biz is biz, and the eye on the bottom line is also critical.

Thanks for the post!

Li

Li Read, RE/MAX Salt Spring, B.C., Canada

liread33@gmail.com

Your post is so true.  We all have to be consistent in what is working for us.  However, if it is not working we should consider trying a different approach.  Thanks for sharing.

I agree, Kim. Consistency is key -- in many, if not all, areas of life!

    Kathy, From what I can see on your profile, you are already "wired in" very well.  What is so different about the new area.  I know I'm just supposed to say "thanks for commenting" but I am really curious. What do you feel is missing?. 

   Li,  It is all about that time thing again.   Too many agents just want to play and hope that work will take care of itself..........it doesn't.......Not the way our country is heading right now.  The bottom line is everything right now.   Thanks for stopping by....

   Laura,  I agree completely with you.  Always be open to trying something new. If it works even a little, add it to the mix we call our business plan.  What is there to lose?   Take care...

  Christopher,   Remain open to all things in life but stay consistent in your work.  The sign of a true professional in our business.

Kim, the power of The Rain. I tried other sites as well, but found AR to be the most positive and out going site.

       Duane,   Thanks for the comment.......AR works because of the people actively on it and the group of dedicated individuals who spend practically every waking moment ( Bob, Rich, etc..) making sure it is heading in the right direction.  Have you ever made a comment on a political or sports site?  They will rip you to shreds and throw whats left of you out in the street.  AR seems to place the right people ( agents, lenders, etc) with a public that wants to know who in their respective areas is the best.  Have a great day,  sorry for my too long comment.

Technology is one of the most important factors which we can actively improve in our business lives.  We can't make customers come to our office, but we can try our darndest to reach them so that they will want to come in.

Kim, being consistent is half the battle!  Nothing good comes easy.  Great post.

      Jon,  It takes a while for each of us to understand and then figure out what stuff we really need, and then use on a daily basis.  Most agents use a scatter shot technique and try a little of everything out there, but never settle on a few main pieces of technology. Whatever works to have clients find us is what to do.

    Ray,  So true.........I made a comment recently that all we need today is passion and consistency.

    Thanks for stopping by.....

I like how you just put it into perspective.  Wonderful post!  You have another subscriber.

      Michael,  Thanks for commenting and subscribing.  Guess that means I need to write some more stuff.   I heard that it is over 100 in Encino and surrounding areas.   Any fires in your neck of the woods?

Kim, I couldn't agree more with EVERYTHING you said. Somewhere in all this madness, we all need to have just a little bit of a life. It makes for a more rounded person and refreshes us to be the best we can be.

I don't think I could have said it better...you are the bomb!

     Hi Gena,   Have been called a lot of things in my life ( some good and some not ) but never "the bomb".  That one I won't forget...It is a shame that most in our business forget that if we do not take care of ourselves first, we can't be of service to anyone.  We all have passion for something, when working with clients that are heavily stressed we must stay consistent in our work;  the passion for that work will push us to complete the task.    Great to hear from you.   And yes, I know you could have said it better.

You have to have an open mind in this profession. It's the only way to stay on top.

      Robert,  Sorry it took so long to thank you for your comment.  Seems the days are running together and reading on-line has taken a back seat.

      Yes we must remain open to new ideas, even when we may not like the source.  But if somethings works to make our lives better it must be considered.

Thanks for the warm welcome.  Great subject..I'm learning to embrace new technology.  I love it and it is about consistancy.

      Robin,  thanks for commenting......Don't be afraid to try lots of stuff to enhance your business. Keep what works for you, discard the rest, and don't worry about making mistakes along the way.  Part of the process.....Take care.

Kim, this is a great blog! We agree with you and you can't disagree with anything that gives you 90+ % of your business. We love AR got 2 referrals today from fellow AR members.

     Patty and Scott,    That is great news as your area is pretty tough right now. Referrals tell you that what you are doing is actually working.  Thanks for commenting.....

Kim... I found you and Ardell on RCG about 2 or 3 years ago.  That was the first blog that I ever read and still read.  You're right, it is all about consistency.

    Thanks Debbie,  And I have read lots of your stuff over time and always walk away with something useful or positive.  Are you going to Inman?

Kim,

I wish I could just stand on the street with a sign and my butt hanging out to get business but it's a two edged sword...I'll only pick up one thing and that's a parking ticket:)

   Well Neal you never know....you just might hit on a new idea for self promotion.  Just think of all the freeway on ramps that could be franchised.....

Hi Kim, Good advice I am new to active rain and blogging although I have been in the mortgage business for quite some time now, just looking for good networking and education to grow.

Thanks, Dan Chapman

I agree Kim, I enjoyed your insight...

  Dan, Use your life experiences to drive you in this business. It will mean that fewer mistakes will happen as opposed to newer agents with no business background.

  Thanks for commenting.